Lester, Koji Awesome--Sox Close to Within One

Tonight was a classic example of the Red Sox season.  The Sox outhit the Cards, nine to four. spreading the wealth from top to bottom of the lineup. The pitching was fully worthy of what you'd expect from John Farrell staff. It started quickly with The Dustman and Papi getting back to back doubles to score the first run of the game.  Lester held that lead until what was probably his one mistake, in the 4th, was taken deep by the Cards' Holliday. The game rolled steadily along, Wainwright doing his best to deny the Sox with what would ultimately total ten K's through seven, but in the 7th, the Sox broke the tie and drove home a pair for what would be the final, 3-1. The pitching was unbelievable! Lester picked up 7 K's in 7 2/3 and allowed not a single freebie--NONE! If that wasn't enough, fairly early on, with the Sox clinging to a paper thin one zip margin, a Card already on first and a bunt hit to JL's left, he couldn't possibly get the lead runner and getting the batter at first was at best going to be close. What does Lester do? OmyGod! What did he do!? He scooped up the ball, running toward first, with his bare hand and lobbed it over the batsman's head to Papi at first, just beating out the batsman for the out. Anyone who thinks Lester can't defend his position needs their head examined. Add this play to the glove throw he made against the Tigers in the ALCS and you've got Pedroia in Lester's body! By the time he left in the 8th, his WS ERA was a microscopic 0.59--the fifth lowest ever of any pitcher in the Series with at least 75 innings pitched. Then came Koji--and what else do you really need to know?
Then you have Papi. Until he made an out in the 6th (on a long fly to straight away center, however), he had tied (in the 4th) the all time Series record for consecutive times reaching base. The record, by Hatcher in the 1980's, is nine consecutive times reaching base. His line for the night was three for four, including the aforementioned two bagger in the first. The closest to the nine in a row is eight held by some guy named Gehrig back in the 1920's. Gehrig--wonder who he was--Oh, yes, Hall of Fame; held record for consecutive games played and had 493 career HR's until the disease named for him took him away from us. Pretty fancy company Papi's hanging with. The Sox DH/first sacker is 11 for 15 so far in this Series, an unworldly .733 for a batting average! Then, the final frosting on the cake--the bottom of the order gets together and adds a pair of final runs from Ross's ground rule double, assisted in the end by Ellsbury as they round to the top again.
What now? Now back to Fenway for Game 6, Lackey taking the ball. They are in a similar situation now to where they were against Detroit just over a week ago: back to Fenway leading 3-2, but knowing that the fact they have two chances for the ring doesn't mean they can back off. They have to keep coming just the way they have all season.  Two chances? Like Hell--don't wait--finish the job as soon as possible!